Lord Bradley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For each year since 2002 what was the total number of (a) prosecutions, and (b) convictions under Section 1 of the Protection of AnimalsAct 1911.

Lord Drayson: The Ministry of Defence works closely with the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), other government departments, veterans' organisations and other service providers to ensure a co-ordinated and structured approach to homelessness among a small minority of ex-service personnel. Our aim is both to prevent new service leavers becoming homeless and to provide an effective safety net for existing homeless ex-service personnel. Current measures to achieve this include:
	enhanced housing advice and assistance to all service personnel;joint research to identify the extent of ex-service homelessness, to understand better the factors leading to it and to assess the effectiveness of remedial measures;supporting a range of initiatives by the voluntary sector, particularly through the Ex-Services Action Group on Homelessness, including funding for key workers and an advisory leaflet for homeless ex-service personnel in London;supported short-term accommodation for Service leavers at risk of homelessness; and working with the corporate, voluntary and government sectors to assist homeless ex-service personnel to return to sustained employment, through schemes such as Project Compass.
	Interim findings of a current study indicate that these measures are achieving considerable success, with the proportion of rough sleepers with an Armed Forces background down by around two thirdssince 2000.

Lord Triesman: Our embassies in Bangkok and Rangoon have regular discussions with the UN High Commission for Refugees in Thailand and Burma, and the Government of Thailand,about the welfare of refugees in Thailand. These discussions include access to education and employment. The UN High Commission for Refugees is denied access to Mizoram State and is therefore unable to visit the camps in India. However, we look for opportunities to raise the situation of Burmese refugees in India with the state and central Governments as part of our dialogue with the Government of India on Burma.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they propose to give lead responsibility for the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, and for the Government's policy on equality and human rights, to the Ministry of Justice; and, if not, what is the justification for dividing lead responsibility for equality and human rights between departments.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Sentencing in individual cases is entirely a matter for the judge or magistrates dealing with it in accordance with the law and with regard to any guidelines issued by the Sentencing Guidelines Council or the Court of Appeal.
	Funding for courts is the responsibility of the Lord Chancellor. By virtue of Section 1 of the CourtsAct 2003, he is obliged to ensure that there is an effective and efficient courts system and that appropriate services are provided. The Government believe that, as a matter of general policy, prison should be reserved for serious and dangerous offenders and that others are better punished in the community. But they do not seek to influence individual sentences, and nor will they under the new machinery of government arrangements.

Lord Triesman: There is at present no consensus among EU partners on the way forward regarding the constitutional treaty or any new treaty. These issues will be discussed at the European Council in June. It is too early to speculate on the outcome of these discussions. The Government's approach to these discussions was set out in the Written Ministerial Statement in another place of my right honourable friend the Ministerfor Europe, Geoff Hoon, of 5 December 2006(cols. 10-11WS).

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: These Questions have been assumed to relate to an extradition request bythe United States of America to Poland forMr Manzarpour. The United Kingdom Government have no locus in this case and consequently are unable to answer the Questions.

Lord Rooker: The information requested is set out in the table below.
	
		
			 River in England designated as SAC with salmon as a qualifying feature Currently failing CL (2006 data)? Current compliance with management objective? Predicted compliance with management objective in 2011(1)? 
			 Itchen Yes Fail Uncertain 
			 Avon-Hants Yes Fail Fail 
			 Camel No Pass Pass 
			 Ehen No Uncertain Uncertain 
			 Derwent No Pass Pass 
			 Eden No Uncertain Uncertain 
			 Dee No Uncertain Uncertain 
			 Wye Yes Fail Fail 
			 Notes:(1) The Environment Agency's predictions of compliance are to 2011 not 2010 
		
	
	A river is classed as complying with the management objective if there is a high probability, more than95 per cent, that it will exceed its conservation limit in four years out of five. Two of the eight SAC rivers, the Camel and the Derwent, fall into this category. Three other rivers, the Ehen, Eden and Dee, are less certain to comply fully with the management objective but are all tracking very close to their conservation limits and showing improving trends.
	The remaining rivers are further below the management objective, but one (Itchen) shows a good improving trend while the others (Avon and Wye) have seen periods of recovery but currently show no clear long-term trends.

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 29 March (WA 310), to what department ofthe Government the veterinary services building on the Mall, Armagh city, belongs; and whether the Union flag is flown at this building on the appropriate dates.

Lord Rooker: Forensic Science Northern Ireland (FSNI) is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to the latestISO 17025-2005 standard. UKAS accreditation is voluntary except in the case of uploading DNA profiles to the national DNA database, and, although accreditation is an assurance of a recognised standard, it is not a pre-requisite for providing forensic science evidence in criminal cases.
	Some forensic science disciplines are not intrinsically suited to being UKAS accredited due to their complex and varied methodologies. FSNI's range of accreditation is, however, one of the widest of all forensic science providers.

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answers by Lord Davies of Oldham on 18 April (WA 65) and 26 April(WA 155), why they are unable to state within what timescale they expect to make an announcement on the action they will take following the proceedings in both Houses of Parliament on the draft Gambling (Geographical Distribution of Casino Premises Licences) Order 2007.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Data for before 2000-01 is not available. Tables have been placed in the Library showing data on consultants who provide dental public health advice, as at 30 September, for 2001-06.

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the anticipated annual savings in the provision of stoma and incontinence items and other related services at primary care level inthe National Health Service following the implementation of the review arrangements under Part IX of the Drugs Tariff.

Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many male patients were treated in geriatric wards in the National Health Service in England and Wales during 2005 and 2006 respectively; and
	How many female patients were treated in geriatric wards in the National Health Service in England and Wales during 2005 and 2006 respectively; and
	How many male patients were treated in general surgery wards in the National Health Service in England and Wales during 2005 and 2006 respectively; and
	How many female patients were treated in general surgery wards in the National Health Service in England and Wales during 2005 and 2006 respectively; and
	How many male patients were treated in hospital wards in the National Health Service in England and Wales during 2005 and 2006 respectively; and
	How many female patients were treated in hospital wards in the National Health Service in England and Wales during 2005 and 2006 respectively; and
	How many male patients were treated in orthopaedic wards in the National Health Service in England and Wales during 2005 and 2006 respectively; and
	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many female patients were treated in orthopaedic wards in the National Health Service in England and Wales during 2005 and 2006 respectively; and
	How many male patients were treated in cardiac wards in the National Health Service in England and Wales during 2005 and 2006 respectively; and
	How many female patients were treated in cardiac wards in the National Health Service in England and Wales during 2005 and 2006 respectively.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Improving poor people's access to effective health services is a priority for the United Kingdom. A critical aspect of implementing our 2005 and 2006 international development White Paper commitments to expand basic health services involves working with other international development partners, African Governments and civil society to ensure long-term predictable financing for the health sector to improve basic health services and ensure better health for the poor. Our support is instrumental in enabling countries to develop and implement plans for increasing their human resource capacity in health.
	As part of the Department for International Development's (DfID) response to tackling the health staff crisis, it awarded a five-year grant to the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET), under its Civil Society Challenge Fund, in 2006 to help expand links between the UK National Health Service and poor countries. It is too soon to assess the impact and success of the THET project; the first annual report is due later this year. In addition, we will consider the report on effectiveness of links or twinning carried out by McKinsey for the Gates Foundation, which will useful in considering our approach to this work.
	In Somaliland, DfID has been working closely with a consortium of British organisations, which includes THET, to develop a proposal for building human resource for health capacity.
	The proposal has been finalised, and DfID is now considering providing the necessary financial support to this pilot development scheme, which will also address regulatory issues.

Lord Triesman: While the UN has endorsed the temporary international mechanism (TIM), it does not have any role in its operation. All non-salary support to key Palestinian Authority ministries is run by the World Bank under window 1 of the TIM, following World Bank procurement guidelines. The UK monitors the procurement process on a monthly basis and has provided a procurement expert to the office of the president to ensure transparency. Humanitarian payments under window 2 of the TIM are contracted and paid for directly by the European Commission (EC) and meet UK agreed EC guidelines. The UK was closely involved in the design of the social allowance element under window 3 of the TIM, ensuring it had satisfactory checks and balances in place. This includes tracking each and every payment and conducting terrorist checks on individuals receiving payment. UK officials also conduct regular meetings with the EC to ensure its guidelines are being followed. A review of the TIM will take place this month that will include an assessment on the transparency of the TIM.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Secretary of State has referred five cases to the independent reconfiguration panel (IRP) for advice. The five cases equate to eight separate referrals from overview and scrutiny committees (OSC). Details of the cases and their outcomes are listed below. The Manchester Making it Better and Healthy Futures cases and the Gloucestershire case are currently with the IRP for consideration.
	A further case in east Kent was referred to the IRP in April 2003, although this did not relate to a referral from an OSC.
	Cases referred by the Secretary of State for Health to the independent reconfiguration panel:
	Proposed changes to maternity services in Calderdale and Huddersfield. Referred by: Calderdale and Kirklees joint OSC.Outcome: IRP advice accepted in full by the Secretary of State, with a decision to support the local NHS proposals for inpatient, consultant-led maternity care to be centred on the Calderdale Royal Hospital site together with an alongside midwife-led unit. A stand-alone midwife-led unit would be provided at the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary site.Acute services review in Hartlepool and Teesside.Referred by: Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Middlesbrough Council, Hartlepool Borough Council.Outcome: IRP advice accepted in full by the Secretary of State. IRP advice was that a modern hospital should replace the existing out-of-date hospital buildings and be provided on a new site in a well situated location accessible to the peopleof Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Easington and Sedgefield. Until the new hospital is open, consultant-led maternity and paediatric services should be centralised at the University Hospital of North Tees and a midwifery-led maternity unit and a paediatric assessment unit should be provided at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, in addition to elective surgery and emergency medical services, taking into account best practice.Making it Better consultation on the reconfiguration of in-patient services for women, babies, children and young people in Greater Manchester, East Cheshire and High Peak.Referred by: Salford OSC, Bury OSC, Rochdale OSC.Outcome: To be confirmed. Healthy Futures reconfiguration of hospital services in the north-east sector of Greater Manchester.Referred by: Rochdale OSC.Outcome: To be confirmed.Decision by Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust to centralise older people's mental health inpatient facilities at Charlton Lane, Cheltenham. Referred by: Gloucestershire OSC.Outcome: To be confirmed.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Government will continue to provide base funding for the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) during 2007-08. It will also continue to fund community rail lines and services via franchise arrangements and grants to Network Rail. Funding for local community rail partnerships is a local responsibility.
	The Government sponsored an award in the 2006 Community Rail Awards. Since then, they have sponsored additional awards for the development and implementation of marketing plans for community rail routes, and the overall winner will be announced at the 2007 awards.
	Capital funding will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and there is no specific allocation for community railways.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: Under arrangements with our telephony supplier, the DWP has 2299 non-geographic telephone numbers in use for a variety of purposes.
	The department delegates the administration and management of non-geographic telephone numbers to local management at operational level. The information on services linked to individual telephone numbers broken down by departmental units and its agencies is not available.
	Obtaining the revenue information for the total period requested would incur disproportionate costs. However, figures for January to September 2006 are available: the revenue received amounted to £321,948, which was offset against DWP telephony costs.